How to unroot Mediatek before installing an OTA update

It does feel good to see an Over The Air (OTA) update from your Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), especially when its a leap from one major version of Android to another. In a haste to update, some device users end up encountering errors or even bricking their phones while trying to install OTA updates on rooted devices; causing the phones in question to always boot straight into recovery mode. In such a situation, a factory reset doesn’t help in any way. We did provide a fix for this at https://forum.hovatek.com/thread-5517.html but today’s guide is focused on prevention.

Why do I need to unroot before I can install an OTA update?

OTA updates are signed. This means the Android system checks the integrity of core partitions before proceeding with installation of the OTA zip file. What this means is that if you have somehow altered these core partitions, you will likely encounter an error or end up with a bricked Android phone.

What exactly am I trying to achieve by unrooting?

You are simply trying to return your boot, recovery and system partitions to their original states so they can pass the System test (Root Integrity check).

How do I perform a Root Integrity check?

In Stock recovery, select Root Integrity check and wait for the result

Why isn’t the unroot option in my SuperSU or Kinguser the best option for me?

We’ve had a number of bricked phones due to opting for this method of unrooting. Your /system partition has already been modified / patched so you’re still exposed to the possibility of an incompatibility with the OTA zip file since the Super User unroot option does not completely cover its trail.

How do I unroot an MTK phone before flashing an OTA update?

You will be reverting the boot, recovery and system partitions because they are core and are commonly altered in order to root or after rooting. To unroot your MTK Android phone ahead of an OTA update:

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37 comments on “How to unroot Mediatek before installing an OTA update”

Keemie

Thanks for this tutorial. Which option should I select on sp flash tool for system I can see BOOTIMG which I assume is for image and also RECOVERY which I assume is the option to select to flash the recover image so which one should I select for system.

Hovatek

steven

please how do i port a “custom recovery” on my infinix x530 race max Q.. or make my kernel support a “swap file” or better still,,,how do i port or flash any thing custom on my phone….. really need u guyz help…plz.

Hovatek

Harry Georgiou

I want my touchscreen working properly after I flash my phone, so far I press my touchscreen and it does not respond properly, any tips? I have a THL, I have the stock ROM scatter file, it all has an address I have tried just download that does not work, I am trying firmware upgrade and I only see a red LED on my mobile phone, I will try download and Format all too, I tried it before but not really much success. Any tips how to bring it back to normal.https://androidmtk.com/download-thl-stock-rom-models I got it from here

Harry Georgiou

I want my touchscreen working properly after I flash my phone, so far I press my touchscreen and it does not respond properly, any tips? I have a THL, I have the stock ROM scatter file, it all has an address I have tried just download that does not work, I am trying firmware upgrade and I only see a red LED on my mobile phone, I will try download and Format all too, I tried it before but not really much success. Any tips how to bring it back to normal.https://androidmtk.com/download-thl-stock-rom-models I got it from here Sorry I pressed space when I wanted to check the receive email for response, is there a more recent or better ROM I can download ???

Hovatek

first off all I thnkfull to u for your kind guidness .sir am using win8 and I do same method as u guid us but I still a problum with my sp tool .it not detect mtk device. can u help me??+923116446751 is my whatsapp number plz give me ur answer

Hovatek

Toby

Good morning am having issues unrooting my infinix x600 LTE 2gig ram. All the stock roms I downloaded failed to xtract properly therefore I can’t flash recovery, boot and system Pls hovateck can u help me to a link where I can download d selected items Cam I have wasted to much data thanks in anticipation.

Hovatek

Toby

Thanks for responding my build number is X600-H533-A1-M-20160317. I have downloaded d rom twice but when unzipping it writes one error or d other. I considered downloading d flashfire app n then downloading the XOS update to do a manual updated. But I realize am not so good with all d computer thing so I just want to unroot my phone and wait for the ota to popup. Thanks for ur asisstance n time.